Nobody could have imagined this Chicago Bears team making the kind of run they have had, but this last win proves that they are for real.
The Bears took down the Green Bay 22-16 in overtime in Week 16 to take a 1.5-game lead in the NFC North and one more victory away from winning the division. Now sitting at an 11-4 record, they are also in a position to take the number one seed in the NFC with some help.
After yet another comeback win for the Bears (make that six on the year), head coach Ben Johnson was asked about this team. Johnson knew from the moment the season began that he had something special in this Bears team.
"This is a special group. I felt that early in the season," Johnson said via 670 The Score's Chris Emma. "I couldn't be more proud of the group. I mean, I'm very fortunate to be in the position I'm in coaching these guys. It's not something I take for granted."
The 2025 Bears team is built differently from other teams
Time and time again, this Bears team has defied the odds and found ways to win games. Besides the six come-from-behind wins this season, they have now proven they can beat teams with winning records, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Green Bay Packers.
This is an entirely different team from last year, which couldn't protect the quarterback, couldn't run the ball, and couldn't win many games. Despite multiple injuries on offense and defense, the 2025 Bears fought through them all to get to this point.
All the credit needs to be given to Johnson for the roster he has constructed with general manager Ryan Poles and the culture he has instilled in this unit. There may be times when Johnson gets way too cute with his play-calling and tends to struggle with clock management, but he has shared the mindset that they can overcome any adversity throughout the game.
The job is not done yet, as they might have 11 wins on the year, but they still need to clinch a playoff spot, win the division, and potentially capture the NFC's number one seed. It will take some wins and some help to make that happen.
Read more: Updated Week 16 NFC playoff picture has Bears within striking distance of one seed
Thanks to what Johnson has built, there is more than a chance of that happening, as it might be time to start talking about a potential Super Bowl run for the Bears.